Cruises to Istanbul
There’s a new aura of excitement in Istanbul these days, as this center of the Ottoman empire has become one the world’s focal points for art, fashion, haute cuisine and nightlife. Of course there’s always an abundance of ancient monuments and grand mosques with stunning frescoes to see here, like the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque. Head to any park and you’ll see why tulips have long been the symbol of this city.
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Istanbul, Turkey Highlights
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Suleymaniye Mosque
Built by the Sultan during the peak of the Ottoman Empire, it combines slender minarets with large domed buildings to produce an awe-inspiring structure inside and out. -
Chora Museum
Built as a church in the 11th century, then converted into a Mosque in the 1500s by the Ottomans, this extraordinary museum has no peer in Turkey and perhaps the world when it comes to beautiful frescoes and mosaics.
Arguably Istanbul’s most famous and beautiful mosque, Sultan Ahmet’s visual treat has more minarets than any other in the city, the largest courtyard, 260 windows, and tens of thousands of blue tiles.
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Classical Istanbul
The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Grand Bazaar, Turkish food… all things that come to mind when you think of Istanbul. This tour is designed to cover the major ... more
The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Grand Bazaar, Turkish food… all things that come to mind when you think of Istanbul. This tour is designed to cover the major highlights of Istanbul and maximize your time in this classical city. Visit one of the most recognized landmarks in the world, the Mosque of Sultan Ahmet, better known as the Blue Mosque because of the over 21,000 blue-green Iznik tiles used for its interior decoration. The six minarets and the layout of the domes and semi-domes create a unique exterior. Walk to the Hippodrome to see the remains of what was once the scene for political struggles and uprisings in the capital city of the Byzantine Empire. Continue your walk and visit Hagia Sophia, "Holy Church of Wisdom," now mostly referred to as St. Sophia Museum, a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture and considered as the 8th wonder of the world by most art historians. St. Sophia originated as a church in 360 AD and was later converted into a Mosque when the city was conquered by the Ottomans. Today, it’s considered as the most important Byzantine monument in the world. Another highlight of your tour is Topkapi Palace, a great walled complex hugging the shores of the Bosphorus and Golden Horn, once the residence of the Ottoman Sultans. The Treasury Section houses the 86-carat spoon maker diamond and an equally impressive emerald dagger. Another stop in your itinerary is the Grand Bazaar. The Bazaar is composed of two sections: the covered traditional part and the modern open section. The covered section is a whole quarter on its own and is surrounded by a wall which can be entered through several gates. The maze of streets and lanes are one of the greatest sights in the city, where various trades are segregated into different sections. You’ll have a chance to explore the exotic atmosphere of the covered part for a brief period of time. You’ll also visit the open and modern section which offers the best artworks and most reliable shopping. Here, you’ll see a presentation on the unique art of Turkish carpets and be given additional time to shop. Enjoy some complimentary refreshments while you shop and stroll in the handicraft store. A Turkish lunch is also part of your classical Istanbul experience. Note: This tour is not available for Norwegian Spirit's August 3, 2013 sailing. Participants are required to remove their shoes when entering the Mosque and are provided with an environmentally friendly bag to store them. As this tour visits a place of worship, please dress respectfully: no bare shoulders or exposed knees. Should the mosque be closed to visitors due to religious festivities, you’ll visit another historical mosque. On Sundays, the Grand Bazaar closes and only the shops of the outer open area of the bazaar remain open. Therefore, the visit of the covered section may be replaced with the Spice Bazaar. The "Gallery" section of St. Sophia and "Harem" section of Topkapı Palace are not included. There is approximately 2 miles of walking over uneven surfaces and some inclines and steps on this tour. Your Turkish lunch includes water; additional drinks are available at an extra charge. This tour will be subject to national and religious festive days due to the closure of the sites and venues during the month of Ramadan from July 9, 2013 through August 7, 2013, including the Festival Period of Ramadan from August 8, 2013 to August 10, 2013. less
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| Approximate Duration | Adult from | Child from |
|---|---|---|
| 8¼ hours | $149* | $99* |
Complete Istanbul 2-Day Package
This two day tour is designed to offer you an all-embracing experience to get to know the city of Istanbul. You’ll begin with an orientation drive which reveals Istanbul's connections between ... more
This two day tour is designed to offer you an all-embracing experience to get to know the city of Istanbul. You’ll begin with an orientation drive which reveals Istanbul's connections between Europe and Asia. Continue to traveling over the Golden Horn toward the Old City. Your tour includes a visit to the ancient Hippodrome followed by the Blue Mosque, renowned for its architectural harmony, proportion, elegance, and its six minarets. Visit the St. Sophia Museum, a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. Built originally as a cathedral, it later became a mosque and then finally a museum. Next, head to Topkapi Palace, a great walled complex and once the residence of the Ottoman Sultans. There you’ll have the opportunity to admire many of its great treasures. You’ll also visit the Underground Cistern, the largest and most magnificent covered cistern in Istanbul. In addition you’ll visit, Ibrahim Pasha Palace, known as the Turkish Islamic Museum of Arts, located on the west side of Hippodrome, exhibits a variety of items that include antique kilims, manuscripts, Islamic calligraphy, carved and inlaid wood, ironworks, stone sculptures, stained glass and folk art as well as the Ethnological collection, which is devoted mainly to the nomads of Anatolia. The Museum also hosts the most valuable ancient Turkish carpets belonging to the original Usak and Selcuk Carpet collections. Enjoy a boat ride on the Bosphorus, along the shoreline of this narrow waterway and indulge the views of the Dolmabahce Palace, the Beylerbeyi Palace and the few remaining towers of the Anadolu Hisar, where you’ll see the city’s connection to the Black Sea. Finally, it is time for a stop at one of the most colorful sites in the ancient city; the Grand Bazaar. The Bazaar is composed of two sections: the covered traditional part and the modern open section. The covered section is a whole quarter on its own and is surrounded by a wall which can be entered through several gates. The maze of streets and lanes are one of the greatest sights in the city, where various trades are segregated into different sections. You’ll have a chance to explore the exotic atmosphere of the covered part for a brief period of time. You’ll also visit the open and modern section which offers the best artworks and most reliable shopping. Here, you’ll see a presentation on the unique art of Turkish carpets and be given additional time to shop. Enjoy some complimentary refreshments while you shop and stroll in the handicraft store. A traditional Turkish lunch is included on your second day. Note: Tour is only available for Norwegian Jade winter sailings. Tour order is dependent on traffic conditions, but all sites will be visited during the two days. As this tour visits a place of worship, please dress respectfully: no bare shoulders or exposed knees. Participants are required to remove their shoes in order to enter the Mosque. The "Gallery" section of St. Sophia and "Harem" section of Topkapi Palace are not included in the program and can be visited independently during free time. Some sections of Topkapi Palace may be temporarily under renovation and closed to the public. Water is included during lunch; however, soft drinks and/or alcoholic beverages are available at an additional cost. Please expect differences in tour duration due to traffic conditions. less
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| Approximate Duration | Adult from | Child from |
|---|---|---|
| 15 hours | $219* | $139* |
Capital of Two Empires
The Ottomans and Byzantines ruled this city for centuries, and testament to these great empires stand the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, opposite each other in Sultanahmet Square. ... more
The Ottomans and Byzantines ruled this city for centuries, and testament to these great empires stand the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, opposite each other in Sultanahmet Square. You’ll visit these two impressive landmarks of Istanbul as well as the Basilica Cistern and the Grand Bazaar. Start with a visit to one of the most recognized landmarks in the world, the Mosque of Sultan Ahmet, better known as the Blue Mosque because of the over 21,000 blue-green Iznik tiles used for its interior decoration. The six minarets and the layout of the domes and semi-domes create a unique exterior. From here, continue to the Hippodrome, to see the remains of what was once the scene for political struggles and uprisings in the capital city of the Byzantine Empire. Visit the St. Sophia Museum, also known as Hagia Sophia, and a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. It served as a church for hundreds of years during the Byzantine Empire and was converted to a Mosque when the city was conquered by the Ottomans in 1453. Here, you’ll find evidence of both. Continue to the great Byzantine Basilica Cistern, located across from Hagia Sophia. You might think that having so many breathtaking sites to visit above ground leaves no need to go under. But you’ll soon discover why this visit is worth every minute. Next stop is the Grand Bazaar. The Bazaar is composed of two sections; the covered part and the modern part. The covered part is surrounded by a wall which can be entered through several gates. The maze of lanes are one of the greatest sights in the city, where various trades such as carpets, jewelry, leather goods, silver, souvenirs, textiles and antiques are segregated into particular sections of the bazaar. You’ll have a short time to experience the exotic atmosphere of the covered part. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit the open and modern section of the Grand Bazaar which offers the best artworks and most reliable shopping. During your time around the Grand Bazaar, you’ll attend a presentation on the unique art of Turkish carpets with additional time to shop at the handicraft store while enjoying complimentary refreshments. You’ll also have free time for lunch during the tour and you’ll find many choices around the area (at your own expense). Note: Tour is not available for the Norwegian Spirit August 3rd, 2013 sailing, or for day one of the Norwegian Jade winter sailings. Expect differences in tour durations due to traffic conditions. Participants are required to remove their shoes in order to enter the mosque and are provided with an environmentally friendly bag to store them. As this tour visits a place of worship, please dress respectfully: no bare shoulders or exposed knees. Should the Blue Mosque be closed to visitors due to religious festivities, you’ll visit another historical mosque. On Sundays, the Grand Bazaar closes and only the shops of the outer bazaar remain open, therefore the visit to the Grand Bazaar may be replaced with the Spice Bazaar. The "Gallery" section of St. Sophia and "Harem" section of Topkapı Palace are not included, however may be visited during free time. There is approximately 1 1/2 miles of walking over uneven surfaces and some inclines and steps on this tour. This tour will be subject to national and religious festive days due to the closure of the sites and venues during the month of Ramadan from July 9th, 2013 through August 7th, 2013, including the Festival Period of Ramadan from August 8th, 2013 to August 10th, 2013. less
| Approximate Duration | Adult from | Child from |
|---|---|---|
| 7 hours | $119* | $79* |
Istanbul by Land & Sea
Experience Istanbul by land and sea. Begin with a cruise on the Bosphorus Strait on a local boat; you’ll delight in a mixture of past and present sites including unforgettable ... more
Experience Istanbul by land and sea. Begin with a cruise on the Bosphorus Strait on a local boat; you’ll delight in a mixture of past and present sites including unforgettable castles, towering minarets, and world-famous modern luxury hotels. Following your boat trip, continue to the Old City by bus to visit the Blue Mosque, at one end of Sultanahmet Square, designed by architect Mehmet Aga to rival Hagia Sofia at the opposite end of the square. This is one of the most famous religious buildings in the world. Its interior walls are adorned with beautiful blue green tiles, which give the mosque its most popular name. On one side of the square is the Hippodrome. Not much is left of it, just the Egyptian Obelisk, Serpentine and Constantine Columns. Continue your walk through this bustling square to reach the majestic Hagia Sophia, now a museum and the most important Byzantine monument in the world. The intricate mosaics that adorn its ceilings and walls are of immeasurable artistic and historic value. Next stop is the Grand Bazaar, composed of a covered traditional part and a modern open section. The covered section is a labyrinth of streets with more than 4,000 shops that sell anything you can imagine; from the most expensive art work, to the cheapest trinket, the grand Bazaar has it all. You’ll be fascinated by the exotic atmosphere. At the open modern section, you’ll find the best shops and most reliable shopping. It is here that you’ll participate in a presentation on the art of Turkish carpets while enjoying complimentary refreshments. You’ll have time to shop or browse at the handicraft store. A stop for lunch is scheduled during the tour to enjoy a Turkish style meal. Note: Expect differences in tour durations due to traffic conditions. Participants are required to remove their shoes in order to enter the mosque and are provided with an environmentally friendly bag to store them. As this tour visits a place of worship, please dress respectfully: no bare shoulders or exposed knees. Should the Blue Mosque be closed to visitors due to religious festivities, you’ll visit another historical mosque. On Sundays, the Grand Bazaar closes and only the shops of the outer bazaar remain open, therefore the visit to the Grand Bazaar may be replaced with the Spice Bazaar. The 'Gallery' section of St. Sophia is not included. There is approximately 1 mile of walking over uneven surfaces and some inclines and steps on this tour. Your Turkish lunch includes water; additional drinks are available at an extra charge. less
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| Approximate Duration | Adult from | Child from |
|---|---|---|
| 8¼ hours | $159* | $99* |
Byzantine Treasures
Turkey has a great history, and Istanbul has been witness to great civilizations that have left behind innumerable treasures. One of those great civilizations was the Byzantine ... more
Turkey has a great history, and Istanbul has been witness to great civilizations that have left behind innumerable treasures. One of those great civilizations was the Byzantine Empire, and in spite of the many centuries past, today you can still find some of the artistic wealth they left behind. Visit the Chora Museum, located just by the ancient city walls; it was built as a church towards the end of the 11th century and has had many restorations and refurbishments during its long history. The church was converted into a Mosque in the 1500s by the Ottomans. Dating from the early 14th century, the mosaics and frescoes lining its walls and ceiling depict the lives of the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ and are beautiful examples of the Byzantine Renaissance. You’ll also visit Hagia Sophia, the "Holy Church of Wisdom" or St. Sophia Museum as it is now called. Used as a church for over 900 years, and a mosque for almost 500, it was closed for services in 1934 and converted to a museum since. Many historians have called it the 8th wonder of the world, and it is considered the most important Byzantine monument. The Grand Bazaar is another stop on your tour. It’s one of the world’s largest covered markets and its thousands of shops sell everything from t-shirts and souvenirs to expensive jewelry and antiques. This important trade center sees more than a quarter million visitors daily, from the typical tourist looking for a souvenir to take back home, to the local citizen looking for an everyday household item. The traditional covered section has beautifully decorated domed ceilings with thousands of stalls and stores, and the modern open area has the best modern shops where you can find the most reliable shopping. It is in this modern section that you’ll have a presentation on the unique art of Turkish carpets and be given additional time to shop. Enjoy some complimentary refreshments while you shop and stroll in the handicraft store. You’ll also have free time during your tour to grab a bite to eat at a local cafe or enjoy the cuisine at one of the many restaurants around this area (at your own expense). Note: Tour is not available on the Norwegian Spirit April 17th, August 3rd, September 20th nor October 2nd 2013 sailings. For Norwegian Jade winter sailings, tour is only available on day two. Expect differences in tour durations due to traffic conditions. The "Gallery" section of St. Sophia is not included. On Sundays, the Grand Bazaar closes and only the shops of the outer bazaar remain open. Therefore, the visit to the Grand Bazaar may be replaced with the Spice Bazaar. There is approximately 1 3/4 miles of walking over uneven surfaces and some inclines and steps on this tour. This tour will be subject to national and religious festive days due to the closure of the sites and venues during the month of Ramadan from July 9th, 2013 through August 7th, 2013, including the Festival Period of Ramadan from August 8th, 2013 to August 10th, 2013. less
| Approximate Duration | Adult from | Child from |
|---|---|---|
| 7 hours | $119* | $79* |
Blue Mosque & Grand Bazaar
The Blue Mosque is one of the most prominent landmarks in Istanbul, with its impressive domes and semi domes, fine courtyards and six tall and slender minarets. While you enjoy your walking ... more
The Blue Mosque is one of the most prominent landmarks in Istanbul, with its impressive domes and semi domes, fine courtyards and six tall and slender minarets. While you enjoy your walking tour inside this magnificent structure you’ll gaze in awe at its blue-green tile interior which gives the Mosque its name. It is renowned for its architectural harmony, proportion and elegance. Breathtaking stained-glass windows and graceful arabesques decorate this mighty structure. Continue your tour with a visit to the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest covered markets in the world with over six-thousand stalls that sell everything you can imagine, including carpets, jewelry, leather goods, silver and a variety of souvenirs. The Bazaar is composed of two sections: the covered traditional part and the modern open section. The covered section is a whole quarter on its own and is surrounded by a wall which can be entered through several gates. The maze of streets and lanes are one of the greatest sights in the city, where various trades are segregated into different sections. You’ll have a chance to explore the exotic atmosphere of the covered part for a brief period of time. You’ll also visit the open and modern section which offers the best artworks and most reliable shopping. Here, you’ll see a presentation on the unique art of Turkish carpets and be given additional time to shop. Enjoy some complimentary refreshments while you shop and stroll in the handicraft store. Note: Tour is only available for Norwegian Jade winter sailings. Participants are required to remove their shoes in order to enter the Mosque. As this tour visits a place of worship, please dress respectfully: no bare shoulders or exposed knees. Please expect differences in tour duration due to traffic conditions. less
| Approximate Duration | Adult from | Child from |
|---|---|---|
| 4 hours | $59* | $39* |
Topkapi Palace & Grand Bazaar
This tour is designed to introduce you to the most important highlights of the Ottoman Era. Begin your day with a drive over the Golden Horn to the ancient city of Istanbul. ... more
This tour is designed to introduce you to the most important highlights of the Ottoman Era. Begin your day with a drive over the Golden Horn to the ancient city of Istanbul. Visit Topkapi Palace, a great walled complex once residence to the Ottoman Sultans, which hugs the shores of the Bosphorus and Golden Horn. Mehmet II built the palace-city, in the mid-1400s as a summer palace. Topkapi Palace was later enlarged by Suleiman the Magnificent into the Sultan's principal residence and with the successive Sultans grew into a great complex of buildings set in lovely gardens. A series of courtyards connect various buildings which now house an astonishing collection of Chinese porcelain, the Topkapi dagger and the celebrated Topkapi Diamond, plus much more. You’ll also visit one of the most colorful sites of Istanbul; the Grand Bazaar, the heart of commerce in Ottoman times. The bazaar is composed of two sections; the covered part and the modern part. The covered part is a whole quarter in itself and is surrounded by a wall which can be entered through eleven gates. The maze of streets and lanes are one of the greatest sights in the city, where various trades such as carpets, jewelry, leather goods, silver and textiles share the space with a variety of souvenirs, antiques, and home goods, segregated into different sections. You’ll have a chance to explore the exotic atmosphere of the covered part for a brief period of time. You’ll also visit the open and modern section which offers the best artworks and most reliable shopping. Here, you’ll see a presentation on the unique art of Turkish carpets and be given additional time to shop. Enjoy some complimentary refreshments while you shop and stroll in the handicraft store. Note: This tour is only available on day one of the Norwegian Jade winter sailings. The "Harem" section of Topkapi Palace is not included in the program and can be visited independently during free time. Some sections of the palace may be temporarily under renovation and closed to the public. Please expect differences in tour duration due to traffic conditions. less
| Approximate Duration | Adult from | Child from |
|---|---|---|
| 4½ hours | $74* | $64* |
Dolmabahce Palace & Grand Bazaar
This exclusive tour is an opportunity to travel in a small group to see the latest palace of Istanbul as well as enjoy some shopping in the bazaar and exploration in the new ... more
This exclusive tour is an opportunity to travel in a small group to see the latest palace of Istanbul as well as enjoy some shopping in the bazaar and exploration in the new city. Start your day with the highlight of the tour, Dolmabahce Palace, through the Imperial gate. Built in 1856, the palace sits on 62 acres and consists of 285 rooms and 46 halls. The most notable sites include the crystal staircase made of Baccarat crystal and the ceremonial hall which was designed to hold 2,500 people. Then, continue to the Grand Bazaar, composed of two sections: the covered part and the modern part. The covered part is a whole quarter on its own and is surrounded by a wall which can be entered through several gates. The maze of streets and lanes are one of the greatest sights in the city, where various trades such as carpets, jewelry, leather goods, silver; varieties of souvenirs, textile, antiques, and home textile are segregated into particular sections of the bazaar. You'll have the chance to explore the exotic atmosphere of the covered part for a brief period of time. You'll also have the opportunity to visit the open and modern section of the Grand Bazaar which offers the best artworks and most reliable shopping. During your time around the bazaar, you'll be taken for a presentation on the unique art of Turkish carpets and be given additional time to shop. Enjoy some complimentary refreshments while you shop and stroll in the handicraft store. Conclude your day in Taksim, where the city is alive and bustling 24 hours a day. Some free time will be given for your own exploration as well as lunch. Note: Not available for Norwegian Spirit sailings of July 10th, July 22nd, August 3rd, August 15th, August 27th and September 8th or for Norwegian Jade winter sailings. This tour is conducted in small groups and requires a minimum number of participants to operate. Please expect differences in tour durations due to traffic conditions. On Sundays, the Grand Bazaar closes and only the shops of the outer bazaar remain open, therefore the visit to the Grand Bazaar may be replaced with the Spice Bazaar. There is approximately 1 1/2 miles of walking over uneven surfaces and some inclines on this tour. This tour will be subject to national and religious festive days due to the closure of the sites and venues during the month of Ramadan from July 9th, 2013 through August 7th, 2013, including the Festival Period of Ramadan from August 8th, 2013 to August 10th, 2013. less
| Approximate Duration | Adult from | Child from |
|---|---|---|
| 6 hours | $159* | $159* |
A Turkish Night
After a short orientation drive through the busy streets of the city, you arrive at one of the most popular tourist night clubs in Istanbul. During dinner you’ll have the ... more
After a short orientation drive through the busy streets of the city, you arrive at one of the most popular tourist night clubs in Istanbul. During dinner you’ll have the opportunity to see belly dancers, folk dance groups from different regions of Turkey and a finale performance by an international singer. Note: Tour is only available for the first night in Istanbul on the Norwegian Jade winter sailings. Guests interested in this tour must present themselves to the Shore Excursions Desk on board the vessel to review availability and departure times. Guests wishing to utilize a wheelchair on this excursion must provide the Shore Excursions desk with the total dimensions (height, length and width) and weight of the electric scooter or wheelchair at the time of booking. Use of a motorized scooter is not guaranteed on this excursion. Please note that this information is subject to change and availability is not guaranteed. less
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| Approximate Duration | Adult from | Child from |
|---|---|---|
| 3½ hours | $99* | $59* |
Scenic Istanbul by Night
Your scenic drive by night will first take you through the historical area of Istanbul. Travel to the heart of the Old City, as you drive over the Galata Bridge and view the Old ... more
Your scenic drive by night will first take you through the historical area of Istanbul. Travel to the heart of the Old City, as you drive over the Galata Bridge and view the Old City’s Sea Walls as well as the Sea of Marmara. As you reach the heart of Old City, take in the breathtaking photo opportunity of the Blue Mosque’s magnificence. Also known as the ‘Sultan Ahmet Mosque’, it was built by his order over a seven year period in 1609. You’ll see the German Fountain and Obelisks at the Byzantine Hippodrome, which was once at the heart of Constantinople’s political and sporting life. It is now a tranquil city park. Nearby, from outside, you’ll see the 6th century St. Sophia Museum, considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture. Continue your journey back to the new city as you drive over the Ataturk Bridge reaching Taksim Square, where the city life is bustling 24 hours a day. Enjoy some free time to explore Taksim independently before your journey back to the pier. Note: This evening tour is designed for guests with limited mobility and who do not wish to walk long distances and is only available for the first night in Istanbul on the Norwegian Jade winter sailings. Please expect differences in tour duration due to traffic conditions. less
| Approximate Duration | Adult from | Child from |
|---|---|---|
| 2¼ hours | $29* | $19* |
Scenic Highlights
Begin your visit to this beautiful city on two continents with a drive through the coastal road of Dolmabahce. View the magnificent gate of famous Dolmabahce Palace as you cross ... more
Begin your visit to this beautiful city on two continents with a drive through the coastal road of Dolmabahce. View the magnificent gate of famous Dolmabahce Palace as you cross to the Asian side of Istanbul via the Bosphorus Bridge. After a short orientation drive on the Asian side, a short stop gives you a great photo opportunity. Continue to the Old City in the European side where you’ll find the Hippodrome, a reminder of what was the center of Byzantium’s political scene. Take in the breathtaking views of the Blue Mosque with its unique exterior defined by its six minarets, domes and semi-domes. You’ll admire its interior, covered with beautifully hand painted blue tiles which give the mosque its most popular name. Hundreds of windows let the natural light come through, creating a luminous effect. Stop at the Grand Bazaar with its two distinctively different sections. The covered part, surrounded by a wall, can be entered through several gates where you’ll find anything imaginable in its thousands of stalls. You’ll have the chance to explore its exotic atmosphere for a brief period of time before continuing to the open and modern section which offers the best and most reliable shopping. During your time around the Grand Bazaar, you’ll take part in a presentation on the unique art of Turkish carpets. Enjoy some complimentary refreshments while you shop and stroll in the handicraft store. Note: The Asian-side orientation drive is subject to traffic conditions and in case of extreme congestion or road closures can be replaced with a scenic drive by the Old City walls. Expect differences in tour durations due to traffic conditions. Participants are required to remove their shoes in order to enter the mosque and are provided with an environmentally friendly bag to store them. As this tour visits a place of worship, please dress respectfully: no bare shoulders or exposed knees. Should the Blue Mosque be closed to visitors due to religious festivities, you’ll visit another historical mosque. On Sundays, the Grand Bazaar closes and only the shops of the outer bazaar remain open, therefore the visit to the Grand Bazaar may be replaced with the Spice Bazaar. less
| Approximate Duration | Adult from | Child from |
|---|---|---|
| 5 hours | $59* | $39* |
Exclusive Artistic & Historic Treasures
Explore some of the treasures that the one-day visitor to Istanbul usually misses, and do this in the company of a small group. Visit Suleymaniye Mosque, an important historical ... more
Explore some of the treasures that the one-day visitor to Istanbul usually misses, and do this in the company of a small group. Visit Suleymaniye Mosque, an important historical symbol for the Turks. It represents the best of the arts with the most powerful of political strength. The mosque is a huge complex built above the Golden Horn during the peak of the Ottoman Empire. At the time of its construction, it boasted the highest dome when measured from sea level, even though from its base it is smaller than Hagia Sophia’s. After years of careful restorations, the mosque was re-opened to visitors in 2010, although some restoration work is still going on in the courtyards. The acoustics are among some of the most distinctive features of the structure that was built not only as a place of worship, but also as a charitable organization. Its interior decorations are of simple design and subtle elegance, giving it a feeling of light and openness. Suleyman the Magnificent rests in the complex’s garden. Next stop is the Chora Museum, located just by the ancient city walls. Built between 1077 and 1081 by Maria Dukaina, the mother-in-law of Emperor Alexius Comnenus, it has had many restorations and refurbishments during its long history. The church was converted into a Mosque in the 1500s by the Ottomans. The mosaics and frescoes that adorn its ceilings and walls date from the early 14th century and depict the lives of the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ, serving as beautiful examples of the Byzantine Renaissance. Before returning to the pier, you’ll stop at Pierre Loti, a popular café overlooking the Golden Horn, for a tea break. The café is known for its beautiful views and was named after a French writer and sailor who used to spend time there, contemplating the city he loved so much and inspired his first book Aziyade. A stop will be made at the spice market, where you'll see and smell the exotic products of mystical Istanbul. Note: Not available on Norwegian Spirit sailings of April 17th, September 20th or October 2nd 2013 sailings and on day one of the Norwegian Jade winter sailings. This tour is conducted in small groups and requires a minimum number of participants to operate. Please expect differences in tour durations due to traffic conditions. Participants are required to remove their shoes in order to enter the mosque and are provided with an environmentally friendly bag to store them. As this tour visits places of worship, please dress respectfully: no bare shoulders or exposed knees. Should the Suleymaniye Mosque be closed to visitors due to religious festivities, you’ll visit another historical mosque. There is approximately 1 3/4 miles of walking over uneven surfaces and some inclines on this tour. This tour will be subject to national and religious festive days due to the closure of the sites and venues during the month of Ramadan including the Festival Period of Ramadan. less
| Approximate Duration | Adult from | Child from |
|---|---|---|
| 5¼ hours | $99* | $99* |
